Posts Tagged ‘The Big Bang Theory’

So how did I do on my Emmy predictions? Below is my report card, with comments on the missteps.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

I said: Michael Emerson for playing Benjamin Linus on Lost for episode “Dr. Linus” (ABC)
The winner: Aaron Paul for playing Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad for episode “Half Measures” (AMC)

That’s tough luck. Continuing down many of these awards are going to shows I don’t watch or can’t stand.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

I said: Christina Hendricks for playing Joan Harris on Mad Men for episode “Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency” (AMC)
The winner: Archie Panjabi for playing Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife for episode “Hi” (CBS)

I’m disappointed Christina Hendricks was passed over, but I can easily get behind Archie Panjabi’s win. I seriously can’t wait to see her in action again in the upcoming new season of “The Good Wife.”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

I said: Chris Colfer for playing Kurt Hummel on Glee for episode “Laryngitis” (FOX)
The winner: Eric Stonestreet for playing Cameron Tucker on Modern Family for episode “Fizbo” (ABC)

“Modern Family,” we meet again. I wish you would go away.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

I said: Jane Krakowski for playing Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock for episode “Black Light Attack” (NBC)
The winner: Jane Lynch for playing Sue Sylvester on Glee for episode “The Power of Madonna” (FOX)

Like I said, Sue Sylvester is too easy a character to play. “Be a bitch,” is pretty much the only direction (accepting, admittedly, those scenes with her sister). I can understand where the award came from, but it’s not my choice.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

I said: Jim Parsons for playing Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory for episode “The Pants Alternative” (CBS)
The winner: Jim Parsons for playing Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory for episode “The Pants Alternative” (CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

I said: Amy Poehler for playing Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation for episode “Telethon” (NBC)
The winner: Edie Falco for playing Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie for episode “Pilot” (Showtime)

Maybe I just don’t run with the Showtime set. Chris Colfer is always fawning over “Nurse Jackie,” so maybe there’s something to it.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

I said: Hugh Laurie for playing Dr. Gregory House on House for episode “Broken” (Fox)
The winner:Bryan Cranston for playing Walter White on Breaking Bad for episode “Full Measure” (AMC)

Again, I have just never seen Cranston on “Breaking Bad,” which is apparently a hindrance.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

I said: Julianna Margulies for playing Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife for episode “Threesome” (CBS)
The winner: Kyra Sedgwick for playing Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer for episode “Maternal Instincts” (TNT)

Just a bad choice. Turning down Julianna Margulies is just unforgivable. When did the tastefully understated performance go out of vogue?

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

I said: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)The winner: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Comedy Series

I said: Glee (FOX)
The winner: Modern Family (ABC)

Vomit vomit vomit.

Outstanding Drama Series

I said: Mad Men (AMC)The winner: Mad Men (AMC)

Final tally: 3 out of 11 = 27%. But two of them — the “Mad Men” and “Daily Show” wins — were painfully obvious. I can only truly claim to have predicted correctly with Jim Parsons’ win.

Tonight is the 62nd Primtime Emmy Awards. I have no interest in watching, because awards shows are stilted, overly scripted borefests, but below you will find my predictions for who will take home a statuette tonight (in the interesting categories, anyway).

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Andre Braugher for playing Owen on Men of a Certain Age for episode “Powerless” (TNT)

Michael Emerson for playing Benjamin Linus on Lost for episode “Dr. Linus” (ABC)

Terry O’Quinn for playing John Locke/The Man in Black on Lost for episode “The Substitute” (ABC)

Martin Short for playing Leonard Winstone on Damages for episode “You Haven’t Replaced Me Yet” (FX)

John Slattery for playing Roger Sterling on Mad Men for episode “The Gypsy and the Hobo” (AMC)

A few good hits on this list: John Slattery, Aaron Paul, Terry O’Quinn. But when it comes down to it, the winner is obvious: Michael Emerson. I never knew what to think Ben Linus — still don’t — and his performance was one of the diamonds in the “Lost” rough (he can be creepy in anything [1:43]). Which reminds me, I’m totally miffed Jorge Garcia, Hurley on “Lost,” was left off this list.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski for playing Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife for episode “Bang” (CBS)

Rose Byrne for playing Ellen Parsons on Damages for episode “Your Secrets Are Safe” (FX)

Sharon Gless for playing Madeline Westen on Burn Notice for episode “Devil You Know” (USA)

Christina Hendricks for playing Joan Harris on Mad Men for episode “Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency” (AMC)

Elisabeth Moss for playing Peggy Olson on Mad Men for episode “Love Among the Ruins” (AMC)

Archie Panjabi for playing Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife for episode “Hi” (CBS)

Oh, so many good performances. First, Christine Baranski and Rose Byrne deserve to be on this list, but not to win. They’re good, but not great. Ignoring “Burn Notice” (as I and most of America always do) it’s between Christina Hendricks, Elisabeth Moss and Archie Panjabi. I so want Moss to win, and I think she will one of these days. Panjabi is my favorite new actress, and I hope her character is even more well developed in the next season. Ultimately, this one goes to Christina Hendricks. She is absolutely fabulous, especially in the nomination episode, one of the more memorable (out-of-control lawn mower in the office, anyone?).

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell for playing Phil Dunphy on Modern Family for episode “Game Changer” (ABC)

Chris Colfer for playing Kurt Hummel on Glee for episode “Laryngitis” (FOX)

Jon Cryer for playing Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men for episode “Captain Terry’s Spray-On Hair” (CBS)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson for playing Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family for episode “Family Portrait” (ABC)

Neil Patrick Harris for playing Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother for episode “Girls vs. Suits” (CBS)

Eric Stonestreet for playing Cameron Tucker on Modern Family for episode “Fizbo” (ABC)

A) Chris Colfer hands down. B) Is the nominating committee aware there are other actors on “How I Met Your Mother” besides Neil Patrick Harris? C) “Two and a Half Men” should have been cancelled one and a half men ago.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Julie Bowen for playing Claire Dunphy on Modern Family for episode “My Funky Valentine” (ABC)

Jane Lynch for playing Sue Sylvester on Glee for episode “The Power of Madonna” (FOX)

Holland Taylor for playing Evelyn Harper on Two and a Half Men for episode “Give Me Your Thumb” (CBS)

Sofía Vergara for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family for episode “Not In My House” (ABC)

Kristen Wiig for playing various characters on Saturday Night Live for episode “Host: James Franco” (NBC)

Jane Lynch is qualified but Sue Sylvester is too easy. Kristen Wiig is one of the most the most talented actress on SNL, but I doubt she’ll take it. I’m voting for Jane Krakowski; her performances liven up “30 Rock,” which can otherwise be dragged down by some overinflated plots and characters.

Tony Shalhoub for playing Adrian Monk on Monk for episode “Monk and the End” (USA)

Alec Baldwin is wonderful on “30 Rock,” but this last season gave him some undesirable story lines. Matthew Morrison is a great singer and has some acting moments as well, but he’s far too “cool hip-hoppy teacher” most of the time to be really considered. I’d like this one to go to Jim Parsons, who in some small way is putting a face to Asperger syndrome.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Toni Collette for playing Tara Gregson on United States of Tara for episode “Tornado” (Showtime)

Edie Falco for playing Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie for episode “Pilot” (Showtime)

Tina Fey for playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock for episode “Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001” (NBC)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus for playing Christine Campbell on The New Adventures of Old Christine for episode “I Love What You Do for Me” (CBS)

Lea Michele for playing Rachel Berry on Glee for episode “Sectionals” (FOX)

Amy Poehler for playing Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation for episode “Telethon” (NBC)

Lea Michele’s great as a singer, but somehow I doubt she’ll take home this award. It’s probably between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, interestingly, and in that case I have to go with Poehler. Liz Lemon is funny, but too much emphasis is put on her being ugly or fat or poorly dressed when she’s not. Poehler, on the other hand, always nails it as the adorably naïve Leslie Knope, and her performance has only gotten better with time.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Kyle Chandler for playing Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights for episode “East of Dillon” (The 101 Network/NBC)

Jon Hamm for playing Don Draper on Mad Men for episode “The Gypsy and the Hobo” (AMC)

Hugh Laurie for playing Dr. Gregory House on House for episode “Broken” (Fox)

This isn’t a very exciting list of nominations. There are only two who could win, Bryan Cranston, who I’ve heard very good things about but have never seen in action, and Hugh Laurie. (Personally, I’m a little tired of Jon Hamm. Anyone else or is it just me?) Any previous season of “House” and I wouldn’t be overly impressed, but these last episodes were increasingly introspective on so closed a character without seeming hokey or contrived. Cranston will probably win, so my consolation vote goes to Laurie.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Connie Britton for playing Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights for episode “After the Fall” (The 101 Network/NBC)

Glenn Close for playing Patricia “Patty” Hewes on Damages for episode “Your Secrets Are Safe” (FX)

Mariska Hargitay for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for episode “Perverted” (NBC)

January Jones for playing Betty Draper on Mad Men for episode “The Gypsy and the Hobo” (AMC)

Julianna Margulies for playing Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife for episode “Threesome” (CBS)

Kyra Sedgwick for playing Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer for episode “Maternal Instincts” (TNT)

There are a lot of deserving actresses here. Not among them is January Jones, whose appearance on this list I can only chalk up to clerical error. Mariska Hargitay, as always, is great, but the Emmy will fall between Glenn Close or Julianna Margulies (or Connie Britton, but I don’t care about “Friday Night Lights”). Faced with that horrific toss-up, I’ll give it Margulies, although I doubt she’ll actually win tonight.

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)

Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Conan O’Brien’s nod is political at best. Late night is boring. “Saturday Night Live” had some good shows this season (think Jon Hamm or Betty White, who already won an Emmy last week for her guest hosting), but there were far too many duds: January Jones, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner. It’ll probably go to either the “Daily Show” or the “Colbert Report,” so I’ll go with the old favorite, which has been doing very well portraying the stupidity of modern life.

Outstanding Comedy Series

30 Rock (NBC)

Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)

Glee (FOX)

Modern Family (ABC)

Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

The Office (NBC)

“30 Rock” has won this category the last few years; I think it’s time for someone else to take the prize. Everyone seems to be atwitter about “Modern Family,” but the one episode I forced myself to sit through was so thoroughly unamusing I never even grinned during the whole half-hour; I can’t throw my support behind so boring a show. This one has to go to “Glee,” despite the serious dips in the second half of the season.

Outstanding Drama Series

Breaking Bad (AMC)

Dexter (Showtime)

The Good Wife (CBS)

Lost (ABC)

Mad Men (AMC)

True Blood (HBO)

“True Blood” has a rabid fan base and otherwise no interest to anyone outside it. Its complete draw seems to be hot shirtless men every Sunday. There’s no way “Lost” wins after so insanely crappy a finale. I’d like for “The Good Wife” to win, but I don’t think it can hold up as well to basic-cable-friendly Emmy voters (and besides, I’m hoping the show will win in other categories). Therefore, the Emmy goes to “Mad Men.”